Sunday 30th December 2007

Reflection

The Holy Family is seen as the model for the human family, the religious community, and the Church itself. The celebration of the Incarnation has brought us to see God’s closeness. In the Holy Family we see the ordinariness of the life of Jesus, the simple acceptance by Mary and Joseph of the marvels of God. In the daily life of family and community we can touch the divine, we can come close to God. But we have to learn to live centered on God, with respect and love for each other. Family is where we most readily experience the miracle that life is. It’s where we fashion ourselves and are fashioned, as human beings. It’s where we learn the art of living, the beauty words such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. It’s where we learn to brush our teeth, wash our hands. It’s where we learn to be on time for meals we haven’t had to prepare ourselves, and to help with wash-up instead of running off to play. In short, it’s where we learn to think of others and not just of ourselves. Most of these important lessons come courtesy of parents.

 

Parish Priest: Very Rev Joseph McGuinness PP VG, 1 Darling Street : Tel 02866322627
Priest on Duty: Rev Owen Gorman, 4 Darling Street Tel 028 66322075

MASSES FOR COMING WEEK
Sat, 29th Dec (Vigil 6.00pm)

Sun, 30th Dec (Lisbellaw) Noreen Donnelly, Leambreslin, Lisbellaw

Mon, 31st Dec 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas
10.00 am Mary McDonnell, Loughview Drive

Tues 1st January ~ Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
World Day of Peace
No 8.00 am Mass
10.00 am Michael McBrien, Old Rossorry Road
12.30 pm
7.30 pm Martin & Madge Quigley, Laragh
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 12.30 pm Mass until 7.30 pm

Wed, 2nd Jan Ss Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen
10.00 am Teresa McDonnell, Loughview Drive

Thurs, 3rd Jan Holy Name of Jesus
10.00 am Mary & Bernard Hughes, Old Rossorry Road
Confessions 12.00 - 1.00pm

Fri, 4th Jan Before Epiphany First Friday
8.00 am (Convent) Patrick & Sarah McCahery and John McAroe, Mulrod & all deceased members of the McCahery family
10.00 am Patrick, Bridie and Brian Murphy, Ross Close
7.30 pm Tom Fallis, Wildwood and Riverside
8.00 pm (Lisbellaw) Private Intention

Sat, 5th Jan Before Epiphany
10.00 am John Considine Hayes, Middlesex
10.30 am (Convent) Ciaran Lunny, Hillview Park

Confessions
12.00 – 1.00 pm & 5.00 – 5.45 pm

Deaths
We pray for the recently deceased:
Brigid Bannon, Mountdrum, Lisbellaw;
Fiona Hay (née Dolan) Derryargon and Glasgow;
James McGovern, 30 Silver Hill Park and Swanlinbar. May they rest in peace.

Weekly Offering 23.12.07 £3,454.00

Church Heating Collection 08.12.07 £3,036.00 (complete)

ACCORD offers marriage and relationship counselling. Fully trained counsellors, there to listen in complete confidence and to help you find your solutions to your problems. Phone 028 66325696 for an appointment.
Accord Marriage Preparation Courses 2008: places available for February 22/23; April 4/5, & 11/12; May 9/10; June 6/7 &13/14; September 12/13; October 10/11; November 7/8 & 14/15. Marriage Preparation Course should be completed at least 4 months before marriage. Phone 66325696

St Michael’s Parish Draw for Week 9 will take place on Monday 7th January at 8.30 pm. Promoters please make returns 7.00 – 8.30 pm.

Donations for the Crib in St Michael’s this year will be for Motomo Hospital in Kitui, Kenya run by the Sisters of Mercy. The hospital is in a poor area of Africa where many people, especially children, suffer from malnutrition and victims of HIV/Aids are also treated. They need our help.

Ministers of the Word for the Sundays of January:
6.00 pm Sat (Vigil) Gerry Murphy;
8.00 am Joan Thornton;
9.30 am Geraldine Corrigan
11.00 am James Lunny;
12.30 pm Sheila Morris.

Ministers of the Eucharist & Collectors (Team A) begin their rota Saturday/Sunday 5th/6th January.

An Evening of Prayer through Song with David Parkes in the Graan Monastery, Enniskillen, Wednesday 9th January, 2008 at 7.30 pm Tickets £7.00 each, (available in the Parish Centre) in aid of the Mother’s Village Medjugorje & Mary’s Meals Ireland.

Dates for your Diary 2008
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18th – 25th January, 2008
• Confirmation in St Michael’s Church Sunday 20th April 2008.
• First Communion in St Michael’s Church, Saturday 17th and Saturday 24th May 2008; Sunday 10th May in St Mary’s Lisbellaw at 10.00 am.

THANKS from the Priests
As we begin the year 2008, the priests thank the people of the parish for all their help and support during the past year. Our thanks are due to all our Parishioners whose faith and commitment have been so vital in the life of the Church.

We thank all who take an active part in the liturgy: collectors, counters, altar servers and their parents; ministers of the Eucharist; all parish choirs, readers, prayer groups, leaders of the Children’s Liturgy, the Parish Baptism team, those who prepare and decorate St Michael’s and St Mary’s for the great liturgical occasions and those who, in informal ways, contribute to the liturgical life of the parish.

We appreciate the work of CCMS personnel, school governors, principals, teachers and staff in parish schools, guides, scouts, marriage counsellors with Accord and those who help the senior citizens, the needy, the sick and those with special needs. We appreciate the constant involvement of the Sisters of Mercy in the life of the parish. We have good reason to be grateful to all who support the Parish Draw, to our faithful promoters and secretaries.

We offer special thanks to all who assist with the production and distribution of the Parish Messenger, to those who represent the parish in ecumenical and other groups and to many individuals who, in various ways, give the parish the benefit of their time and talents. We thank the Parish Pastoral Group who strive to respond to our pastoral needs and to other groups who look after the social outreach of the parish and make it a place of welcome. Finally, we thank the people of the parish for their generous financial support for every parish project – sincere thanks to all who contribute so faithfully to the upkeep of the parish and to the priests, and to those who give the parish the benefit of their Gift Aid.
Let us face the New Year with confidence in all God’s promises.

Parish Centre re-opens Wednesday 2nd January at 10.30 am.
St Michael’s Bookshop will re-open after Christmas on Tuesday, 15th January.

Happy New Year
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your field,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Irish Blessing
Sincere good wishes for the New Year from the priests to all the people of the Parish

Study Theology from Home
Spend time learning more about the Faith, take up the study of theology through distance learning, either for its own sake or for a degree. The Priory Institute, under the care of the Dominicans, is offering a programme of theology especially for lay people, with a network of student support services spread all around the country. If you would like to know further, send for details to: The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24 00353 1 4048127 or 00353 1 404 8124. email: enquiries@prioryinstiute.com

Aware Defeat Depression – Enniskillen Support Group for all those affected by depression meets in the Aisling Centre, Darling Street on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 7.30 – 9.00 pm.

‘Do this in Memory’ in preparation for First Communion 2008 Sunday 27th January at 9.30 am Mass in St Michael’s and St Mary’s Lisbellaw, 10.00 am Mass.

Big Bingo each Tuesday in Scout Hall at 9.00 pm. £2,000 + in Prizes. Please support.

St Vincent de Paul Thrift Centre
48 Forthill Street welcomes good quality clothes and household items. Please leave items at the Thrift Centre, or phone 028 66329893 to arrange collection. Open Monday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.00 pm. Closed for lunch 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm. Closed Wednesdays.

Holy Hour of Adoration in the Convent Chapel this Wednesday 28th November from 8.00 – 9.00 pm, led by Fr Brendan Shannon.

‘Partnership in Lay Spirituality: Religious and Laity New Ways’ by Maureen Dolan, Enniskillen, published by the Columba Press 2007 is available in St Michael’s Bookshop. The first part seeks an understanding of lay spirituality and its development. The latter part develops what lay associate membership of a religious congregation is and its value. Price £9.50.

‘Jesus of Nazareth’ by Pope Benedict XVI: In the Bookshop/ On the Bookstand – the most readable book Pope Benedict has written; this book will be most helpful to anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of Christ and their understanding of the faith. Price £13.60.

Drugwiser Family Support Group
Do you have a family member or friend affected by drug or alcohol misuse? Could you use some safe, free, confidential information? Ring 07749699243 or 028 66328352.

Parents Advice Centre provides a telephone helpline and face-to-face support and guidance service for families. Helpline Freephone 0808 801 722. Helpline Email parents@pachelp.org

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Enniskillen Meetings:
Monday – Nurses’ Sitting Room, Erne Hospital
Thursday and Saturday – Day Centre, Tempo Road
All meetings at 8.30pm. For further information contact 028 90434848

Al-anon
Does someone in your family drink too much? Is it making you
lonely and unhappy – causing money problems – creating stress? It might be your partner, child or your mother or father. If you want help – if you would like to share your worries with people who understand because they have had them too – why not get in touch with Al-anon Family Groups. Phone 028 9068368 for details of your nearest group contact.

Gamblers Anonymous
Meets in the Day Centre, Tempo Road each Sunday at 8.00 pm or contact Gamblers Anonymous on 028 71351329.

CURA
Free and confidential crisis pregnancy counselling.
Monaghan Centre – 00353 47 836000. Open: Monday 11.00 am – 1.00 pm; Thursday 7.00 – 9.00 pm; Saturday 11.00 am – 1.00 pm.

World Youth Day, Sydney, July 2008
Office Address: Clogher don Óige, St Macartan’s College, Monaghan.
Phone:003534772784.E-mailaddress:infor@clogherdonoige.com www.clogherdonoige.com

Counselling for survivors of Sexual Abuse
Nexus offers support to anyone who has been sexually abused, assaulted or raped at any time in their life and are now 17 years old and over. Counselling provides an opportunity for survivors to deal with the effects of sexual abuse, assault or rape. It can help in the process of recovery and enable survivors to create a more positive future. Contact Nexus in confidence at 028 66320046.

NEXUS offers Workshops for survivors of sexual abuse on various topics
including anger management, stress management, self-awareness and assertiveness. Family Education and Support Groups are offered for family members, parents and partners of survivors. Nexus provides an opportunity for those close to the survivor to learn more about the impact of sexual abuse and ways to support both the survivor and themselves. Contact Nexus in confidence 028 66320046.